Pittsfield woman charged with shoplifting at Walmart

PITTSFIELD -- A Pittsfield woman with a history of shoplifting was arrested on Friday after she returned a $160 blender at Walmart that she had just taken from the store's shelf, police said.

Sarina Sweeney, 24, of John Street, allegedly took the appliance from the shelf of the Hubbard Avenue store and presented it to customer service as a return and received a $160 gift card, according to Pittsfield Police Sgt. Michael Maddalena.

She was detained by store security after she used the gift card to purchase $14 worth of items and then arrested by police, who charged her with shoplifting. Sweeney has two prior shoplifting convictions, Maddalena said.

Sweeney was released from custody on her own recognizance, pending a future court date.

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